849 C FLIGHTmaintenance tasks. The aircraft were also fitted with explosive canopy release, designed to facilitate underwaterjettison.

At sea once more in May, the Flight had eight days fairly intensive day and night flying; approximately sixtysorties were flown and only one commitment was missed. Feeling more than satisfied with progress made, theFlight took a final spell of leave in the U.K. prior to the ship's departure for warmer climes, but while Ark steamedtowards the Far East Station opportunities for flying were limited. The exercise programmed to take place offPenang was a limited success only, as restrictions on the Ship's speed kept the fighter aircraft firmly on the deck.Thus C Flight were able to launch all aircraft, and the pilots were delighted to find themselves detailed for simulatedstrike sorties which were carried out with the usual verve and dash.

When the air group disembarked to Singapore in July, C Flight graced R.A.F. Seletar with its presence andcommenced operational flying. The sorties normally entailed flying a barrier up and down the Malacca Straits inorder to detect low-flying intruders from Indonesia. Two or three sorties were flown each night and althoughseveral aircraft were detected during the period, happily none showed aggressive intentions. Little day flying wasdone and time was once more devoted to heavy maintenance tasks and taking advantage of the swimming poolsand station Golf Course (whose contours changed somewhat during the stay).

During Exercise Guardrail, the Flight had what was one of its most beneficial flying periods to date. Theinitial sorties were designed to locate U.S.S. Midway but half an hour after "go" time a Gannet illuminated U.S.S.Midway for identification purposes with a flare which floated gently through their circuit whilst they were nightflying - fortunately radio contact was not established. The remainder of the exercise was devoted to raid reportingand controlling our own jobs in interceptions of the American strike aircraft.

In September, we went ashore to Changi, where the Flight found accommodation good but scarce. Transportand communications problems were increased by the fact that aircrew were living in the Ocean Park Hotel, theAmbassador Hotel, and two Service messes. Fortunately the operational task was reduced and only one barrierwas flown each night.

Embarking once more, the Flight had about a week's flying, some of it without a diversion off Vietnam, beforethe ship steamed for Hong Kong. Shortly after the Ship's departure from this oriental paradise the Flight aircraftwere grounded as a result of the loss of one of D Flight's aircraft. This aircraft trundled down the catapult at about10 knots and entered the "og", fortunately with no injury to aircrew. It was felt that the catapult attachment hookswere at fault and all aircraft had to be X-rayed before further catapult launches were carried out. The Flight wasnervously considering free take-offs because the X-raying proved exceedingly difficult with the equipment available,but the treatment was changed to testing with compactaflux, all aircraft were found serviceable, and the Flightwere ready to fly just in time to disembark once more to R.A.F. Changi.

Finally, we can record with pride the achievement of the Flight during the period off Beira in March. Twenty-four hours a day surveillance of an area as large as the Mozambique Channel requires all the best performance ofthe Gannet and we can congratulate ourselves on our success over all the days on which we were required to operate,and that our serviceability was first class. In addition to the routine searches and the direction of visual and photo-graphic probes by our flightier cousins, we can also record that a Gannet did the only positive fighter interceptionof the Commission when it headed off a Portuguese intruder. Is there nothing these boys can't do?

No account of C Flight's activities would be complete without mention of that noble aircraft the COD. Sincethe Flight left U.K. the COD has flown thousands of miles and visited countless airfields from Labuan to Khor-maksar in order to keep the ship supplied with mail and to fly ship's personnel to and fro as necessary. This meansthat we have carried a number of the more important visitors to the ship.

Although the Gannets and the COD may not have the flashy glamour of the Day jets and the Night jets weknow that we are the ones that everyone really relies on - the first off in the morning light and the last back in thedusk or late into the night. We can congratulate ourselves and those who have gone before us in this Commissionon this record of serviceability and dependability so that, in all sorts of conditions, we have never failed to comeacross with the goods.

[64]

The Weapons and Electrical Department isunique in maintaining equipment in every com-

partment of the ship and takes pride in having emergedvictorious from a complex and never ceasing battle ofwits with the user departments. Each ploy used againstus has been matched and surmounted. Such minorattempts to shake our calm as first removing all talliesfrom a telephone switchboard and then, as a conces-sion, replacing them in the wrong order were easilyovercome. More subtle attempts were made, though,such as the Naval Stores changing all the patternnumbers and then stating blandly that the items de-manded using the original numbers were not recog-nized. However, pride of place must be shared betweenCommander Janion personally and the MarineEngineers collectively. The former for his ever increas-ing requirements for special lighting and insistencethat the portion of the mast perpetually in funnelsmoke should be painted white; the latter for theircruder but effective use of both fire and water in theirincreasing attempts to exhaust our efforts to keepthings going.

As the commission progressed each electrical sec-tion developed its own character and techniques fordealing with problems, although rumours that nextcommissions' Engine Room and Boiler Room Sectionis to be equipped with combined shallow water divingand fire-fighting suits should be discounted.

Our Weapons specialists eventually made up for themany frustrating cancellations of gunnery shoots dueto changes in the flying programmes by achieving apalpable hit on one of our own aircraft with a gunbarrel, thus making "Y" 4.5 mounting the closestrange armament ever fitted. At this point special men-tion must be made of our Weapons Seamen who haveaccepted "electrification" with such good grace andwhose running of the turret pumps has provided theofficers with the loudest alarm clocks in the world.

We can now reveal that those members who devotedtheir time in Hong Kong to the Wanchai District wereofficially learning Chinese in order to understand themore frantic distress calls from the laundry However,the most noted success with telephones was achievedby the maintainer who succeeded in routing all calls

from a certain officer to the Admiral's Sleeping Cabin.(We hope Lt.-Cdr. S---th will enjoy his six years inthe Persian Gulf.)

The major task undertaken by the department wasundoubtedly assisting Singapore Dockyard rewire"B" boiler room and surrounding compartmentsfollowing the fire damage. In all, some 72 miles ofcable were used and all sections gave assistance, in-cluding a fan repair team provided by REA Georgeand his fellow "volunteers" from the Radio Group.

Earlier in the commission the Radio Group had hadits

moments, in particular the ship's staff replacement

of the Tacan aerial between snow squalls in the Firth ofForth. The aerial, which is fitted 160 feet above the seaand weighs 425 pounds, was successfully removed andthe replacement fitted by helicopter. The accuracyshown by the aviators in placing the aerial on the mast

E

WEAPONS ANDELECTRICAL DEPARTMENT

WEAPONS AND ELECTRICAL DEPARTMENTwas extremely high but doubt still exists as to whetherit impressed us more with the fact that flying an aircraftis a highly skilled business or merely with the folly ofgetting anywhere near the beastly things. We have hadour aviation supporters who, in intervals betweenbrewing up in the D.L.P.S. compartment, could occa-sionally be seen creeping furtively around the flightdeck apparently talking earnestly to themselves, whiletaking avoiding action against the mythical red beardedmonster who is reported still to inhabit the after endof the island.

Entertainment, both official and unofficial, has beena feature of the department's activities and hasranged from a "spectacular" run in Mombasa to thefloodlighting of the entire Ship's side and Flight Deckfor the Far East Fleet Reception. This made ArkRoyal the first fleet carrier to be floodlit overall.Other notable achievements included providingtheatrical lighting for Lieutenant McCallum's entirelynatural performance in the pantomime at the PerthConcert Bowl and the conversion by the Radio Groupof the mainmast into a fluorescent cross of "David"for the Christmas illuminations.

The coach tour to Tsavo Game Park was almost asgreat a success as Tiger hunting in Singapore and thetwenty members of the department who located its

lair in Alexander Road were very hospitably treated aswere those who found it in more exotic establishmentsacross the causeway. Banyans by M.F.V. to Changiunder "Lord Jim" Cooksley were another popularfeature of life in Singapore whilst the intrepid WhiteHunter Marshall led his devoted band of Exped en-thusiasts across the Malayan Jungle.

On a more serious note we were proud to assist inArkaid in such tasks as the wiring of the extension tothe Lakoni Cheshire Home and to have in EM Brycethe recipient of the Royal Humane Societies Testi-monial for saving a fellow rating from drowning.

Sport got off to an early start with the departmentalathletics meeting in Devonport where the trophyawarded surely entitled us to claim that we held thefirst ever "Potted Sports". Subsequently we came aclose second in the inter-departmental athletics andthroughout the commission provided a high percen-tage of the ship's hockey, rugger and soccer teams.Undoubtedly though, sailing was our strongest point,not only did we supply the bulk of the ship's team but,under R. E. M. Holme's leadership, built and launchedthe first Ark Royal "piccolo". Lieut-Cdr. Ross mustnot be forgotten. He not only organized the Ship'sRugby but also kindly allowed us occasionally to usethe Rugby fixture office for departmental purposes.

[66]

SHIP'S FLIGHT

T he Ship's Flight for H.M.S. Ark Royal formed at Portland on the 9th September, 1964, and was soon inaction, even though it was, initially, embarked in H.M.S. Eagle. I t seemed wasteful to be luxuriating in theair-conditioned bliss of Eagle i n the English winter when we were to swelter in Ark under tropical skies,

but one of our mottoes is "Gather ye Rosebuds while ye may" so we made the most of it. A short run to Brestand ten days in Gibraltar meant that we felt like "old salts" when Ark was ready for sea.

On our arrival, in "Mother", on the 19th November, we found ourselves relegated to the Hangar extension,along with the minibuses, innumerable crates and the impedimenta of A.E.D. From here our Whirlwind aircraftemerge daily, with practically unfailing regularity, so that one or other of our two crews can keep a watchful eyeon every launch and recovery of those bigger, noisier and nastier aeroplanes from the other hangars. On one ofthe few occasions when we were not able to provide the S.A.R. aircraft, the Wessex called upon to fill our rolefound it all too much for it and fell into the ice-cold sea. Fortunately another Wessex was airborne at the timeand in a convenient position so that the aircrew were swiftly rescued and returned to the carrier.

The principal difficulty of our task is to remain vigilant and alert when, most of the time, our role is a purelynegative one. For launch after launch and for recovery after recovery, we hover like a bird of prey, waiting to picksome unfortunate out of the sea, and nothing happens. Then, when one least expects it one is called upon to actand, within minutes, it is all over and the damp, but undismayed, victim is on his way down to the Sick Bay fora physical by the Doctors and (we suspect) for "medical comforts" while we are back again in our station foranother operation. Sometimes we are allowed off the leash and go round delivering mail, or bread or the visitantvicar to our escorts, or to a submarine or R.F.A. Infrequently we make the longer trips to the shore.

Among our major technical achievements must be recorded the air lift of the Tacan aerial and its subsequentreplacement amid the intermittent snow storms of Rosyth. Our friends in the Commando carriers are dab handswith the lift of stores or vehicles, but we can claim the highest airborne-crane operation in the great Tacan repair.(Some credit should perhaps go to the electrical party who received the aerial back into its position at the mast-head.)

As an independent unit we are extremely proud of our record of serviceability and service. As the first C.O.left and the Senior P. assumed his mantle we have continued in this faithful tradition. We can modestly admit thatwe believe we have the two most serviceable, best maintained, shiniest aircraft in the Fleet today, cared for by themost industrious and diligent group of maintainers and operated by aviators of rare enthusiasm and expertise.

[6 7]

SHIP'S FLIGHT

Akin to bird - but of machine,Relied upon for ship's routine,Keeping station up in the sky,

S afety first for those who fly,A l ways tending the Mother Ark,Returns on board (when it's dark),

Fetching bread, supplies and mail-Let us pray that they prevail.I 'm sure that we all agree so farGod's gift to Ark is the S.A.R.Happily then for years to comeThis service surely must always run.

(This acrostic poem was composed by P.O.M.(E)Burnett on the S.A.R. Flight's first anniversary- 9th September 1965.)

[6 8]

MET AND NAMET

Read the following carefully

SECTION A MET

SECTION B NAMET

Now turn to page 116 and see if you are Weather wise or just plain foolish.

TIME ALLOWED - 18 months or so

[69]

1. Answer each question once only.2. Do not write in the margin, or anywhere else.3. At least one answer is correct in each selection.

l. Weather forecasting is:(a) an inexact science; (b) a black art; or (c) sheer luck?

2. Which of these is a Meteorological instrument:(a) an Assmann Psychrometer; (b) a Sykes Hydrometer; or (c) an Iambic Pentameter?

3. When a radio-sonde is released on a Met. balloon it transmits a coded signal giving the pressure, humidityand temperature at any height. When the balloon bursts, does the radio-sonde:(a) vaporize; (b) stay in orbit; or (c) fall to the earth with a thump?

4. Who said, "I am Sir Oracle":(a) the Operations Officer; (b) the Duty Forecaster; or (c) W. Shakespeare.

5. According to weather lore it will rain heavily if:(a) it rains on June 15th; (b) the oak is out before the ash; or (c) you can see Drake's Island from the Hoe?

6. If you had spent two hours a week studying during the commission you could have passed:(a) NAMET; (b) HET; and (c) G.C.E.?

7. The Ministry of Defence (Navy) will pay up to £10 a year towards the cost of private Correspondence Courses.In which of the following subjects did students benefit from this scheme:(a) Surveying and House Agency; (b) Forestry; or (c) Amateur Radio?

8. In which of the following subjects did students pass in the G.C.E. (Forces):(a) English Literature; (b) Chemistry; or (c) Music?

9. Educational attainments are:(a) something to boast of in the bar; (b) needed for advancement; or (c) valuable in civilian life?

10. Who said, "Throw physic to the dogs. I'll none of it."(a) the Principal Medical Officer; (b) the Education Officer; or (c) W. Shakespeare?

HONG KONG

A though practically everyone on board was looking forward to the visit to Hong Kong with keen pleasure,there were a few pessimists who said "it's very expensive now" or "it's hardly worth the boat ride". Cer-tainly the arrival at the Fragrant Harbour was scarcely auspicious as Tropical Storm Agnes had just passed

that way, depositing fourteen inches of rain in one day and leaving behind more rain, too much wind and swell anda sinister leaden sky. However, Ark Royal did come safely to anchor off Green Island on September 28th, only oneday later than programmed. The Peak was shrouded in cloud and the harbour was just beginning to come aliveagain as the smaller craft and junks left the Typhoon Basin.

The boat ride ashore was certainly long but was not uncomfortable as a most efficient fleet of ferry boats-each one capable of carrying one Watch - had been engaged for transporting libertymen to the heart of Wanchaiand almost to the door of the China Fleet Club. It was true, too, that prices had risen steadily in Hong Kong inrecent years but still the variety, quality and cheapness of many of the goods was astonishing. The Battle of theFor'ward Gangway on the first day was fought between scores of traders of all descriptions seeking permits to selltheir wares on board and a Regulating Staff trying to control their numbers. The deaf and dumb, the painters onsilk or china, the purveyors of car coats and embroidery, the makers of shirts or cheong sams were to becomefamiliar on board. For the larger purchases like camphor wood chests a special Rabbit Warren had to be openedin 9F. Hundreds of smaller packages were sent home immediately in the Christmas sea mail.

While shopping could be made highly economical by the process of tramping from shop to shop throughVictoria or Kowloon and by determined and careful haggling the whole structure of thrift was liable to collapsewhen the last purchase had been made and when the exhausted shopper contemplated his parcels and faced thelong journey back to Pier or Ferry. Too often it required the hire of a taxi, or even a rickshaw, or more often a callinto a nearby Bar or Club for a "refresher". Then, lo and behold, by the time he reached his boat he was con-siderably poorer in pocket if richer in experience. The San Mig, the charming hostess, the orange cocktail areessential parts of the remembered atmosphere of Hong Kong.

For, apart from its staggering selection of goods, from cheap, mechanical toys to antique works of art, the cityoffers every form of enjoyment, whether it lie through the wide portals of the Hilton or the Mandarin, guarded bya veritable Mogul Prince, or through the narrower swing doors of the Suzie Wong or by sampan to a FloatingRestaurant at Aberdeen. The well-being of the customer is the first care of the staff.

On October 1st, and again on October 10th, there were celebrations of the National Day of China - dependingon which China you recognized. For safety, leave was restricted and those on board were entertained either by aprofessional Chinese troupe or by the home talent. The first occasion was enlivened by the burlesque dancer - oneCommander in the front row steamed up his spectacles; the second by news of an attempted coup d'etat inIndonesia. Fortunately, Ark Royal was not called upon to sail. Not only was the Port Catapult stripped downcompletely but also the Admiral was in Hospital and, above all, suits, chests, paintings and other orders galorewere scheduled for later collection.

The streets of Wanchai and the waterfront provide endless interest for the tourist without effort. Two otherexpeditions are worthy of mention. The first is the journey in the Peak Tram, foreshadowed by the Bergen funi-cular. The rate and angle of the ascent seems breathtaking but the unfolding view of the harbour below rivets one'sattention. At the top there is a fair walk around the Peak which gives a view of the islands to the south and aglimpse of Ark at anchor at the tip of the island. Or one can look down over Victoria, Kowloon and the harbour- best seen at dusk with the ferries moving to and fro like fireflies on the dark water against a background of exoticcoloured neon advertising. The other visit for the enterprising tourist is to take the quick and modern hydrofoilcraft to the old Portuguese colony of Macao with an atmosphere and flavour of its own. Certainly all those whovisited Hong Kong came away with its image imprinted clearly in their minds, if not actually on their skin.

[70]

HONG KONG

[71]

THE EXTENDED S.M.P.

T he October Self Maintenance Period in Singapore was intended to prepare the ship for its part in ExerciseWarrior and for the visit to Australia in December. It was also the occasion for a change of Command.Captain Griffin was to leave in order to be promoted to Rear Admiral and to take up his appointment as

Naval Secretary. His successor had been Cdr (Air) of Ark Royal during the first commission and, more recently, asChief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth, had been in charge of the arrangements for the CentoVisit. At 0910 on Friday, 29th October, Captain M. F. Fell, D.S.O., D.S.C.+, R.N., joined and took over commandof H.M.S. Ark Royal. At noon Captain Griffin was pulled ashore by the Senior Commanders. He flew home thefollowing day.

On Sunday, the 31st, during the Dog Watches there was a pipe, "Fire in B Boiler Room." This was promptlytackled by the Fire and Emergency parties, supported by the Dockyard Fire Brigade, and it was considered to havebeen satisfactorily put out by 2130. However, it became apparent that this was not so and the fire had also taken agrip in the funnel uptake to such an extent that it was necessary to hose down the hangar bulkheads and Islandsuperstructure to prevent overheating and the start of other fires. Eventually by 0200 the fire was finally extinguished.

The next morning revealed the extent of the damage, both to the structure of the Boiler Room and the funneluptake and to the electrical wiring. The ship was due to sail for Exercise Warrior on the following Thursday. It wassoon decided that essential repairs would take three to four weeks and that Ark would have to withdraw from theexercise. F.O.2., F.E.F. therefore transferred his flag to H.M.S. Devonshire and left Ark firmly in Dockyard hands.

In order to relieve the tedium of such a prolonged stay in Singapore, the Sports Officer devised what came tobe known as the Departmental Sportex. Each day of the week as many men as possible from a given departmentwent up to the playing fields of H.M.S. Terror and engaged in energetic knock-out competitions of six-a-sidehockey, soccer and basket ball, or in volley ball, tennis, sailing or golf. By noon, everyone was much in need of thebarbeque lunch that the Chefs provided daily at the pavilion - washed down by a pint from the Armada Club. Inaddition to these departmental days and inter-part matches, the ship also engaged in a heavy sporting programmewith other ships. The athletes swept the board in a Command Cross Country; the boxers scored a number of winsin a Boxing Tournament and gave an Exhibition evening against all-comers; the Soccer XI and Rugger XVdefended their standing against many strong contenders.

One result of the change of programme was that Ark Royal was still in Singapore when H.M.S. Eagle arrived.As No. 8 berth was fully occupied, she had to remain at a buoy in the stream, to the chagrin of her libertymen. Inorder to make room for her Squadrons at Changi, the Ark Royal Air Group departed for a temporary resting placewith the R.A.A.F. at Butterworth. The ground parties set out in a 20 vehicle convoy for a two-day drive upcountry. The journey was not without adventure - soon after the convoy had passed, one road bridge collapsed (orit might have been dynamited!). The two carriers engaged in a major sporting competition, the highlight of whichwas a double-header of Soccer and Rugby under floodlights. Ark

were favoured to win the Rugby but the final

result was a draw. Then after a change of goal-posts and a display of countermarching by the combined RoyalMarine Bands the Soccer also was drawn, although here Eagle had been heavy favourites. When one of

Eagle's

exuberant supporters fainted in the heat and excitement a swift Ark wit shouted, "Throw a bucket of air condi-

tioning over him."The political situation in Rhodesia was now deteriorating and suddenly one morning Eagle was gone. The

Dockyard repairs went on apace and in early December Ark was out again for day and night flying in the Singaporearea. But things were not to run smoothly for long; a nasty frothing appeared in the feed water and was identified.by chemical analysis, as an errant detergent. The only cure was a return to S.N.B. and a complete change of water.The visit to Australia now appeared in jeopardy but the change of water did the trick and Ark departed, verybelatedly, for a hasty passage across the Equator towards Fremantle. In the words from Genesis quoted in H.M.S.Albion's Christmas Greetings:

"And the waters prevailed ... and the Ark went upon the face of the waters."

[72]

SUPPLY AND SECRETARIAT

VICTUALLING

O n the Victualling side of the House it is neces-sary to start the story before November '64

because all the ordering and providing must be donewell in advance. The problem was increased by themove into and out of H.M.S. Blake, but on the ap-pointed day, when 100 officers and 1,600 men movedinto Ark we were ready with our Bedding and MessTrap issues, hot meals in the galley and, of course, theTot for the G's. Some of the staff had had to remainbehind in Blake to return stores there, hence we re-member the day with awe and with pride.

We are now most obviously on show on the R.A.Sdays. Replenishmen t at Sea is here to stay, and it isnow an integral part of the ship's way of life. Thereare often a lot of very rude things said about it, butthere is no doubt at all that it is, by far, the quickestway to store ship. For one thing, we get the assistanceof all sorts of people who would otherwise be deprivedof the pleasure of storing. In Ark we have achieved alevel of efficiency when R.A.S'ing that will take somebeating. We normally receive and stow nearly 45 tonsof stores an hour.

Everyone in the ship comes to the Victualling Officeat some time and we hope that each has been met withhelp and a measure of courtesy. The original ChiefPusser, Fred Lee, left the ship as we arrived in the FarEast and went home to be promoted. He was suc-ceeded by Bill Sanham in the V.O. chair, while theMess Traps and Clothing chair is filled (and how!) byC.P.O. Dixon. Th e junior staff have had some promo-tion successes too, moving on to L.S.A. and P.O.S.A.

We have, of course, a band of trusty helpers. Theseare all well known, as they issue the grog, hump thespuds or haul the stores up from the bowels of the shipand keep the storerooms clean and tidy. They are apicturesque team, slightly less so perhaps since BenGunton shaved off, but this has been counterbalancedby A.B. Rutherford's "Superman" tattoo. Talking ofTattooing, we must have the most tattooed Butchersand General Mess Party in the business. We are gladof their assistance.

We know that some of you think the VictuallingDepartment only justifies its existence at "Up Spirits"

[7 3]

Up Spirits

so here is one of the vital statistics. In the first year ofthe Commission we issued Three Hundred and Fifty-Six Thousand, Seven Hundred and Thirty-Six Tots-so by the time we get back to the U.K. we shall be wellpast a half-million. Just think how far half a milliontots would stretch just think!

SHIP'S COMPANY COOKS

L ike the Victuallers, from whom we receive ourraw materials, the first day of moving back from

H.M.S. Blake to Ark was something of a nightmare,made more difficult by the fact that the galleys of Arkare still as they were when the ship was first built tenyears before, and not streamlined and modern likethose in Blake. However, we soon found ways and

SUPPLY DEPARTMENTmeans to get the best out of it all. The CommissioningCeremony found us with a Hangar full of families andfriends and Food, and the former seem to have beensuitably impressed with the victuals provided. Thedecorated cakes on that occasion were made by C. P.O.Cook(S) Langham, who, unfortunately, was invalided

Cooks and pies

from the ship shortly afterwards. We repeated the per-formance of a Buffet Lunch in the Hangar on theFamilies Day - again with marked success. In betweenwe had survived the demands of the Work-Up andtwenty-four-hour round-the-clock catering, and visitsto Brest, Bergen and Rosyth. During one brief returnto Devonport we were able to enter in several classesof the International Gastronomic Festival at Torquayand were delighted when P.O. Cook (S) Gay wasawarded a Gold Medal for his excellent efforts.

Once away from the United Kingdom we found our-selves involved in all manner of special cooking - HotDog stalls on the Flight Deck (they wouldn't let uscollect the cash!); barbecues on the sportsfields atTerror for hundreds at a time; bag meals for banyans- all came in the day's work. It was hard work, too,much of it under particularly difficult and tricky con-ditions, but all in all we pulled through, and some of itwas fun.

It is worth mentioning that during the Commission

we shall have prepared and cooked 2 million poundsof Bread and over a million pounds of Meat. Thesausages we have cooked would have stretched 682miles and the weight of potatoes consumed (1,500tons) is equal to the weight of a frigate.

Despite these vast quantities of effort, the cookshave found some time for relaxation. A number ofbanyans, and one memorable Exped to Kota Tinggiby MFV were organized and some of the sturdiermembers of the staff discovered the thrills and hazardsof living in the jungle. Tiger hunts were particularlywell supported and it is evident that we can cope withthis exercise as well, if not better, as with the moreathletic sort. The soccer team, led by Leading CookAdair, has given a very good account of itself.

The Sixth Commission will have brand-new galleysand equipment to assist them in their labours, but wehope that they will have more than these. We wishthem a full measure of the spirit and friendship whichwe have been fortunate enough to have enjoyed duringour time in the Ark.

SCRIBES FIRST XIThe line up for most of our home fixtures has been:

Scribes

[74]

C.P.O. BAGLEY

P.O. PENFOLD C.P.O. WARD

L. WTR. JAMES L. WTR. OSBORNE L. WTR. BLACKMOREWTR. COLCLOUGH WTR. WALLAS

WTR. JASPER L. WTR. HOSSACK L. WTR. EDWARDS

Referee: Lieut. Lonsdale.Linesmen: Sub.-Lieut. Scott, Sub-Lieut. Davies.Reserves: P.O. Horne, L. Wtr. Capner, L. Wtr. Richardson,

P.O. Rose, P.O. Terry, L. Wtr. McCallum, Wtr. Barrie.

There have, of course, been others who have givenyeoman service but these have been transferred toother teams.

There can be no doubt that Ark Royal is a FirstDivision side when it comes to sheer hard work. Wehave had to contend with the phased drafting ofSquadrons and Ship's Company, the repeated em-barkation and disembarkation of the Air Group andthe Flag, the innumerable changes of LOA and theconstant physical burden of money changing. Duringthe foreign leg of the Commission we shall have paidout over One Million Pounds (Sterling) to the Ship'sCompany in the currencies applicable to Gibraltar,Aden, Singapore, Philippines, Hong Kong, Kenya,Australia and points West.

Having spent half the foreign leg working in a tem-perature of between 91 and 95 degrees we were glad tosee a start made on Air-Conditioning the Pay Office.But, alas, after eight weeks' work by the Dockyard andthree attempts to switch on (the result of which was anunofficial pre-wetting trial) we had to call in the Ship'sStaff to sort it out. It eventually started to work as weapproached a cooler clime but proved a great boonwhen we returned to the damp heat of Singapore.

We have been pleased to see that our Referees havebeen men of character. Our first, later transferred backto the Irish League, presented us with the perplexingproblem of why he ended up in the monsoon ditchwhen, as he himself said, "not a drop had passed mylips". As Shakespeare said, "Methinks he doth protesttoo much." During the Crossing-the-Line ceremoniesthe present incumbent was summoned before theCourt and, apart from an abortive attempt to bribethe Judge, conducted himself in a manner befitting anOfficer of the Branch.

At times, during the strain and stress of the Com-mission, which for us, as for everyone else includesthose numerous extraneous duties, patrols, guards,etc. - a senior working ledger keeper may have beenheard to offer grievous bodily harm to some morejunior ditto, but, on the whole, it has been good to seethat on their several runs ashore by boat, minibus,rickshaw or shank's pony, the staff have moved frombar to bar spreading goodwill among the local popu-lace with a united front and a genial air of depart-mental bonhomie.

NAVAL AND AIR STORES

W e are members of an Ancient and HonourableDepartment whose lineage can be traced back

to Samuel Pepys. His problems were largely confined

SUPPLY DEPARTMENT

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to the difficulties of obtaining sufficient quantities ofStockholm Tar, Holystone . Sailcloth, and Spitkids.These commodities are still available from NavalStores and it is reassuring to note that with the passingof the centuries their supply position has improved.

There is a certain amount of magic in the Storesworld. Hundreds of seemingly superfluous and multi-coloured pieces of paper are distributed to unseenAuthorities at Copenacre, Llangennech, Taunton,Singapore or Hong Kong, and from the anonymousjumble of letters and numbers something tangible atlast appears, be it a radar aerial or the locking-pin fora guardrail. In the pursuit of these bits and spares webuy up a large proportion of the ship's signals trafficand the cargo space of British airlines. A day seldompasses without some urgent ironmongery getting air-borne from home for us. It is a tenuous thread thatholds the world-wide organization together, to get theright thing in the right place at the right time. It callsfor the tenacity of Hannibal, the patience of Job andthe tracking powers of a Doberman Pinscher.

In the old days we were known as Stores Assistantsbut now the term has changed to "Accountant". Thisis rather misleading because accounting for stores iscomparatively simple - it is the obtaining them in thefirst place which takes all one's skill and ingenuity.And each man is expected to have some idea of thepurpose of the stores he deals with. This enables himto follow up the, "I'm sorry, we haven't got one,"with a suggestion of an alternative part that we havegot.

Rather than reel off a string of statistics of the "ifthey were laid end to end" variety, we thought wewould make you acutely conscious of where yourtaxes go - the door handle and lock for £ 1 10s Od. ; the

"Well it doesn't look like an element to me!"

SUPPLY DEPARTMENTKit Locker £13 15s. Od; a Deck Scrubbing Machine£126 5s. Od. If we move into the air world we canignore the shillings and pence, the pounds speak forthemselves - Comoseal Washers £15; Aircraft Lash-ings £15; Scimitar Wing Assembly £28,000. So if onewill do, do not ask for two and if it can be repaired,repair it because Jack Dusty has to think about thecost as well as about the time and effort required toreplace a part. There is little or no substitute for timeand hard work in this business and, like some others inthe Supply Department, we can be distinguished byour Flourescent Tan which results from living on 7Deck most of our seagoing lives.

WARDROOM COOKSAND STEWARDS

For the Wardroom Staff the start of the FifthCommission might be said to have gone like a

culinary bomb - the first major event was a TarantoNight Dinner, within a couple of days of our movinginto Ark from H.M.S. Blake, at which Rear AdmiralJanvrin, who had actually taken part in the attack,was the Guest of Honour. The "Bombe Taranto"fizzed and sparkled as it was paraded round the Mess.Two days later the Commissioning Ceremony broughta crowd of four hundred for a Buffet Lunch. Aftercoping with these events, anything would be possible!

It was almost with a sigh of relief that we sailed forthe Trials and Work-Up. With the embarkation of theSquadrons we welcomed the squadron stewards intothe fold - although later, in Singapore, they were tobecome part of the floating population.

In the spring the Catering Officer formulated plansto launch an attack on the International GastronomicFestival at Torquay. C.P.O. Coo k (O) Pallister, withconsiderable support from the merry men of theGalley staff, entered the field, which was open to theArmed Services of the World. In the face of fiercecompetition he won the first prize - a Challenge Cupand a Gold Medal - with Porte Bonheur Style Salmon

Steaks, two Ducks in the style of Charles Vaucher, andtwo most impressive baskets made of chocolate andfilled with an Orange Mousse.

On the way out East the staff all took advantage ofthe low prices in Gibraltar and Aden so that cameras,record players and radios were very much in evidence.On the 8th June we held a Mess Dinner to mark takingover from H.M.S. Victorious. Th e air-conditioningsystem decided to go on strike rather than cope withthe extra heavy load - it is questionable whether theofficers or the staff suffered the greater discomfort.On arrival at Singapore everyone had his few days ofleave in various Army rest camps and centres. To judgeby the stiff right arms most people enjoyed themselves;one steward even requested to transfer to the Army, ashe fancied himself as a tank driver. Since then we havehad an intensive Keep Fit drive with Volley Ball,potted sports, sportex and the great success of ourfootball team at the top of the league. And we haveenjoyed our visits to foreign ports even though theybring a considerable amount of extra work withreceptions, parties and so on. We look forward to ournext Trafalgar and Taranto Night Dinners, partlybecause they will mean that we have managed the longtrip home and that much dreamed of leave in the cold,wet summer of Guzz.

On the Quarterdeck - Trafalgar Night '65

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